It is quiet on Friday afternoons during the summer here in Wilson. Lots of people going to the beach. So what can I do? Well I found a small crate of glass that I have not unloaded and found some works of art . Not finished artwork but just sheets of glass or scraps of glass that are truly worth saving for an amazing project. I admit I am a glass hoarder, though I prefer the title glass saver, I am not ashamed at all. I want ALL the glass! Some pieces of glass I have had since 2005 and have moved them 7 times and have not cut them.

Changes are coming for Art Happens on Tarboro. On July 7 there will be a reveal. I am so excited and can't wait. I am itching to start but I need to wait until July 3 to start work.

So what supplies do you save? I was a responsible crafter and donated basket making supplies, lots of jewelry findings I will never use, Friendly Plastic ( who thought of that name?), rug braiding supplies, card making supplies, scrapbook supplies and more to different places like Upcycle in Alexandria and Scrap Exchange in Durham. It felt good to release them into the universe so someone could use them instead of storing them for eternity!

Have a wonderful weekend and go take a look at your stored supplies and see what you can make.

Keep art in your heART!
​Kim

Well it is here! Wacky Wednesday at my studio! It is time to work on old projects that need finishing up, repairs, cleaning the grinders and thing that needs tending to. Three students came in, two working on their projects and one to buy more glass! Always love supply shoppers.

I will be planning  for the next quarter this week- classes, workshops, projects, outreach, new products to try. 

So what are you doing on your Wacky Wednesday? 

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Remember to keep art in your heART!

Have wonderful Wacky Wednesday!

​Kim

HERE’S HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A STAINED GLASS PIECE OF ART

HANGING A SUNCATCHER OR STAINED GLASS WINDOW:  I RECOMMEND THAT YOU HANG YOUR PIECE SECURELY FROM A STURDY HOOK THAT HAS BEEN SCREWED INTO A SECURE MATERIAL, LIKE A WALL STUD OR WOODEN WINDOW FRAME – SOMETHING THAT ISN’T GOING TO FALL DOWN. I AM NOT A HUGE FAN OF SUCTION CUP HANGERS ATTACHED TO WINDOWS.
 
CLEANING: THE STAINED GLASS PIECE YOU HAVE PURCHASED HAS BEEN CLEANED, THEN COMPLETELY PROTECTED WITH A WAXY SEALER THAT IS APPLIED IN ITS SPRAY LIQUID FORM, IS LEFT TO DRY, AND IS THEN BUFFED AND POLISHED WITH A SOFT, DRY RAG. ASIDE FROM A GENTLE DUSTING, YOUR PIECE MAY NEVER NEED TO BE CLEANED. I DON’T RECOMMEND USING WINDOW CLEANERS OR OTHER CHEMICAL CLEANERS ON ANY PIECE OF STAINED GLASS, SINCE THEY MAY DAMAGE THE LEAD, SOLDER, GLASS AND INTEGRITY OF THE PIECE. 

WHITENING OF SOLDER LINES: I CLEAN THE PIECE BEFORE IT IS SEALED. HOWEVER, FROM TIME TO TIME, SOLDER OR LEAD WILL OXIDIZE AND LEAVE A WHITISH SUBSTANCE ON ITS SURFACE. GENTLY WIPE WITH A BRUSH OR A NON-ABRASIVE PLASTIC POT SCRUBBER TO REMOVE THE “WHITE”. (NEVER PUT ABRASIVE STUFF ON YOUR GLASS PIECE. IF YOU CAN’T GET THE “WHITE” OFF, CONTACT ME.) 

TWICE A YEAR, I RECOMMEND YOU RE-SEAL THE PIECE SO THAT IT’S PROTECTED FROM “WHITEN”. GLASS SEALER IS AVAILABLE AT ART HAPPENS ON TARBORO. I SPRAY THE SEALER ON A SOFT RAG AND THEN POLISH THE METAL AND GLASS SURFACES FOLLOWED BY A SOFT DRY RAG TO BUFF IT.​

TOUCHING YOUR GLASS PIECE:  STAINED GLASS PIECES ARE PUT TOGETHER WITH SOLDER THAT CONTAINS LEAD. EVEN THOUGH EACH PIECE IS SEALED WHEN IT’S FINISHED, I ALWAYS SUGGEST THAT YOU DO WHAT I DO AND WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WARM WATER AFTER CLEANING/ HANDLING ANY STAINED GLASS PIECE. LEAD IS A HEALTH ISSUE WHEN INHALED OR INGESTED. WASHING YOUR HANDS AFTER HANDLING IT IS CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT UNWANTED EXPOSURE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME 252-650-2530 OR EMAIL ME  at kim@arthappensontarboro.com or kim@kimsjoy.com.

I love stained glass Sunday! Actually I love stained glass everyday. 

Someone asked me why? Why do you work in stained glass? It is so old fashioned. Nobody has stained glass in their houses anymore. It is just something to block you window and the view of outside.

I wanted to cry and scream. I kept my patience as they went on and on. Finally I could take it no longer.

Why do I work in stained glass? Because I love it. I love to work with the glass, listen to it tell what it wants to be, hear its story ( if it is a repair), be amazed it the way light plays with. To take a few sheets of flat glass and to cut it apart, pit it back together and then hang it in a window and see it come to life... that is why!

It has been around for hundreds of years and it came after painting. Does that make painting old fashioned also? There is so much contemporary stained glass out now, it is not your Granny's stained glass! 

Many people have stained glass hanging in their homes and some make it permanent fixtures with built ins. A realtor makes special note of stained glass in a home being listed. And there is lamps and freestanding pieces around in homes.

Block your view? I have stained glass in windows in every room in my house and even numerous pieces in some rooms! I so want to make little pieces to hand in each pane of the frame! Like a stained glass applique window. Stained glass can be transparent so you can see through it and unless the piece covers the whole window, you can see around it.

I just looked up from my computer, it the window in front of me have three pieces hanging and the other window in this room has two. 

Do you think stained glass is too old fashioned? Do you have pieces of stained glass in your home? Do you think it blocks the view? 
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Let me know you thoughts.

Have a great week. Keep art in your heART!
Kim